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Two World War II Middle East campaign Diaries owned by F.W.…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Auckland
Date:
29-Nov-2010
Lot No.
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Description:
Two World War II Middle East campaign Diaries owned by F.W. Benfell. Benfell served as a Lance Sergeant with the New Zealand engineers in north Africa. His diaries, covering 1941-1942, give details of his service in north Africa. It is unsure whether he survived the war as a F.W. Benfell of Dunedin was killed serving with the New Zealand forces (Signals) in Tunisia in 1943, these diaries were located in Dunedin so it is very possible that Benfell transferred from the engineers to the Signals, the two day-to-day diaries are very detailed and have been penned in small meticulous hand writing, and thus, while small in size, the diaries contain a deceptively large amount of information. From the official History of New Zealand Divisional Signals 1954 by C.A. Borman, pg 354: 'All day on the 20th New Zealand Corps made good progress over very difficult going, and halted at 7 p.m, within sight of the country around the approaches to the Tebaga Gap. That afternoon, at 4 p.m, there had been an unfortunate incident when several America fighter-bombers swept over the column and dropped a number of bombs on the Divisional artillery Headquarters' column. This 'Raid' was quite unexpected, especially as the planes' markings were plainly seen. One of the bombs exploded just at the rear of an H section truck and killed Signalman Benfell, who was riding on the back of the vehicle.'
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Militaria & Weapons: Ephemera